Non-League and Academy football writer

In the first leg of the quarter-final stages of this seasons’ Somali British Champions League, Newmont faced Showtime Mash, at Springwest Academy, on Sunday evening. Both sides did well in the group-stages, with London team Newmont, and Leicester based side Showtime Mash, meeting for the first time in this competition on early Sunday evening. Showtime Mash would win the first leg 3-2, in Feltham.

The opening stages of this quarter-final tie would see Showtime Mash start the game as the better team. Shortly after a Showtime Mash player had hit a looping effort narrowly over the Newmont goal from 20 yards out, Showtime Mash player Yusuf Osman would head an effort over the Newmont goal, after meeting the ball at the back post. Then, following on from those two early efforts from the Leicester based team, the away side would go on to take the lead, still early on in the game. 

For the opening goal of the game, a free-kick which had been awarded out on the right-hand side of the pitch, was well delivered into the Newmont penalty area, by former Leicester City academy player Hassan Barreh, with the ball being met well by Farah Abdi, at the back post of the Newmont goal. From where the Showtime Mash defender would powerfully head the ball into the goal, 0-1. A great reaction from Newmont, to going 1-0 down so early on in this important game, would see them respond well, as a team. And after really growing into the game, they would soon find themselves level in this competitive contest.

Mohammed Ali did some good closing down off the ball, to win the ball off the outrushing Showtime Mash goalkeeper, down the right-hand side of the pitch, and just outside of his penalty area. Mohammed Ali would then pass the ball across to Mahamud Hussein who from just inside the penalty area, would side-foot the ball into the goal, beyond a defender on the goal-line, 1-1. Newmont were looking to make the most of seeing a lot more of the ball, as they moved it around the pitch with more pace. But, after having gone close to taking the lead on a couple of occasions, it was now Showtime Mash who would react. And they would manage to retake the lead before half-time, with them finishing the first half strongly.

For their second goal of the game, Sele Nassor would deliver a really good cross into the Newmont box, from out on the left flank. Having found Mohammed Hogsade, who had managed to just get to the ball ahead of a defender, he would then volley the ball at pace, beyond Elmi Elmi and into the goal, 1-2. And then just before the half-time break, Showtime Mash player Sele Nassor would get to a lofted free-kick delivery slightly in behind the Newmont defence, and inside of their penalty area. However, his effort on goal was gathered by Elmi Elmi.

The second half of this game continued to be well contested. But, it was the west London side, Newmont, who were to get the next goal of the tie, early on in the second half. As after Amir’s powerful low effort on the Showtime Mash goal (from around 25 yards out) was parried by George, the Showtime Mash goalkeeper, the ball would be finished into the goal by Abdilahi Abdi on the follow-up and from close range, 2-2. But, as both sides looked to score the important next goal in the game, Showtime Mash were soon to be awarded a penalty, following a foul inside of the Newmont penalty area, which the referee awarded after consulting the linesman on the near side. Up stepped Ali Ashkir, who confidently slotted the ball into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal, 2-3.

Showtime Mash would look to establish a two goal lead for the first time in the game. Following some good skill by Sele Nassor, to take the ball just inside of the Newmont box, his low effort on goal would be well gathered by Elmi Elmi. And then soon after, Sele Nassor would receive the ball down the right-hand side of the home team’s penalty area, before seeing his powerful effort under pressure, go into the side-netting of Elmi Elmi’s goal. This had been a good game to cover, between two talented sides. However it was Newmont who came the closest during the latter stages of the game, to getting the next goal. As Abdilahi Abdi’s low, whipped effort from 23 yards out on goal, would hit the Showtime Mash goalkeeper’s right-hand post.

There’s still so much to play for in the second leg in Leicester, which I am also hoping to attend. However, the first leg was a good game, with both sides enjoying some good passages of play in the game, in what was a good tactical game of football. However, it is Showtime Mash who have the one goal advantage going into the second leg. Showtime Mash winger Sele Nassor was my player of the match on Sunday, after putting in an impressive performance in the forward areas of the pitch, seeing him provide an important assist. With Mahamud Hussein, Abdilahi Abdi, Hamdi Barreh, and Ali Ashkir being some of the other contenders on the day.